spread. I'm ravenous."

Thanks to the fact that the engine well and the one aft from which the
steersman guided the launch were close together, the two comrades, for
they were that on this occasion if on no other, were able to see to the
management of the launch and enjoy a meal at the same time. The attack
they made upon the food which Johnnie brought from the cabin was almost
as fierce as that which James Langdon had made upon the stockade. They
washed the repast down with good hot coffee, which Johnnie made at the
furnace door, drawing water from the river. Then they lounged in the
easiest position and smoked, the stoker his short clay, which one so
often sees gripped between the shining teeth of negro stokers, and Dick
his briar, at peace for the time being with all the world, content with
the good fortune which had befallen him.

"I've a good report to hand in," Dick said to himself, as he reflected.
"The mine has been disturbed, but that was not my fault, and from what I
have heard and seen since, I fancy those at the coast will not be
surprised at the news. I rather expect that they will hardly hope to
see me again, for these Ashantis seem to have gone out to war rather
suddenly some little time ago. But the mines are good for the future,
the wages are paid, and the men will return when the time comes, and in
addition I have a valuable cargo of gold dust and nuggets. Good! The
gains are gold dust, and one steam launch saved. The losses are a
stockade and two native boats, one destroyed and sunk up the creek to
keep the Ashantis from using her, and the other hidden, useless to us
for the time being."

It was pleasant to think of his success, and he passed the hours till
dawn came, wondering what would happen at his meeting with his
employers. And as the moon waned the dawn spread over the sky, at first
a mere rose pink blush, the promise of a fine day. Then the sun got up
and peeped at the wanderers out of the river mist, till it looked like
another moon. Three hours later the increasing width of the river
warned them that they were now approaching the mouth, and presently they
were amidst the sandbanks and upheavals of mud which form its delta.
Dick still clasped the iron make-shift tiller in his hand, and looked
wearily for the central passage, while Johnnie now and again stoked his
furnace and looked mechanically to the indicator and the water-gauge.
For they were both utterly done up and weary.